Indonesia unveils $9.2 billion forest restoration plan but critical details remain missing

Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has announced an ambitious $9.2 billion forest rehabilitation program aimed at restoring 12 million hectares of degraded land by 2034. The massive undertaking, valued at Rp153.78 trillion, represents one of the world’s largest forest restoration commitments and would rehabilitate an area roughly the size of England over nine years.

The restoration target includes 6.3 million hectares within existing forest boundaries and 5.7 million hectares of critical land outside forest areas. At approximately 1.3 million hectares annually, the program would require about Rp17.08 trillion in yearly funding from Indonesia’s national and regional budgets. Additional financing is expected to come from international partnerships, carbon credit schemes, and corporate social responsibility programs, as well as commitments from companies holding forest utilization permits.

However, significant questions remain about the program’s implementation. Key details are still missing, including the specific locations of the 12 million hectares, the methodology used to identify these areas, and their current condition. There’s also confusion about how this initiative relates to Indonesia’s existing 12.7 million hectare Social Forestry Program announced at COP29.

Despite the Forestry Minister’s promise to develop a comprehensive roadmap and strategic plan, this document has not been made publicly available. Environmental experts emphasize that transparency and clear planning will be crucial for the success of this large-scale restoration effort, particularly given Indonesia’s critical role in global climate change mitigation and its status as home to the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest.